Facebook (FB, Financial), the world’s largest social network, in our view is the largest beneficiary of the shift in consumer engagement to mobile. Mobile is no longer a device or an application. It has become a way of life. About four years ago, we participated in Facebook’s IPO at $38 per share. As user engagement transitioned from desktop to mobile, growth slowed and the stock collapsed. We thought Facebook was a unique company with real competitive advantages and viewed mobile monetization as a question of “when” rather than “if.” Market overemphasis on short-term results allowed us to build our position at an average cost of $26 per share. Facebook is currently trading at $114, or three times our initial investment.
We think Facebook will continue to grow. It is using its leadership position to offer targeted advertising capabilities at scale. The company is in the early stages of monetizing online video and Instagram, which have begun to contribute to incremental revenue growth. WhatsApp and Oculus provide additional avenues for potential growth opportunities.
From Baron Funds' Summer 2016 Newsletter.
